Flowers, Swords and France

It was already the time when the lights were just coming on. In the dining room of the Marquis de Treville's mansion, dinner had already begun tonight. Although it was a family dinner, there were very few people, just an old man and two girls.

It was already winter, so the fireplace in the dining room had been burning with firewood, and the temperature in the dining room was as warm as spring. The firelight and candlelight also made the faces of the people inside appear a little red, and the crackling sound of the burning firewood became the only sound in the silent dining room for a while.

When the hour hand of the dining room clock pointed to six o'clock, the members of the Treville family who were sitting silently began their dinner.

Charlotte, who had just walked into the dining room under the notice and guidance of the servant, looked at the two people who had started eating silently, and couldn't help but whispered.

"Isn't Charles coming back for dinner tonight?"

After asking this question, she subconsciously looked at Fran, waiting for the other party's answer. However, Fran just rolled her eyes at her, and then continued eating without paying any attention to her, apparently wanting to give her a bad time.

Charlotte was almost about to explode in anger, but considering that this was in someone else's house, she finally just squeezed her hands tightly and pretended to be indifferent.

You wait, you will see what will happen in the future, and you will cry!

"Charles went to visit guests today, and he probably won't be back," fortunately, the Marquis de Treville answered her. "Usually we are like this, dinner starts at 6 pm on time, even if he is just late, we won't wait."

"I see." Charlotte looked at the Marquis de Treville with a smile, and then walked to the side of the dining table, ready to sit opposite Fran.

Although she was perfunctorily saying something to the old marquis, Charlotte was worried at this time, and she was thinking about other things.

The most confusing thing in her heart was why her family hadn't come to find her yet. Logically, her grandfather, the Duke of Treville, should have received the news and the result, right? Why is there still no movement?

Didn't Charles inform her family? A thought flashed through her mind.

After a moment, she denied this guess. Charles didn't need to do this and force her to stay in his house - at least she couldn't see any reason.

But maybe, it's possible that he really wanted to keep her at home... and then... and then...?

When Charlotte thought of this, her heartbeat suddenly accelerated a little bit, and then she quickly threw this idea out of the sky, sat down at her seat and prepared to start her dinner.

Although she was brought here by force, Charlotte was not like a prisoner at the Marquis of Treville's mansion at the moment, but like a guest. Except for being monitored by the servants and unable to go out, she was basically free in the mansion, and even ate with the host. All other treatments were exactly the same as the courtesy of the guests, so it was not surprising that she didn't understand what the Marquis and his grandson meant.

Unexpectedly, when she was about to sit down, a protest suddenly sounded.

"Don't sit, that seat belongs to my brother!" Fran suddenly looked up at Charlotte, and told her not to sit down in a gentle voice, "Maybe he will be back later?!"

Charlotte turned to look at the old marquis.

"Sit wherever you want," the old man nodded indifferently, "Anyway, he probably won't be back tonight, so don't worry about such trivial matters."

Then, under Fran's focus, Charlotte smiled calmly, sat down leisurely, and started her own dinner.

"The food here is very simple, and it can't be compared with your home at all. Please be patient." The old marquis smiled and joked, as if to liven up the atmosphere.

"How could that be? What are you thinking about!" Charlotte's sweet smile is enough to make any elder feel comfortable and happy, "I don't have so many opportunities to eat with grandpa at home. I'm so happy to have a meal with you today..."

Then, she spread strawberry jam on the toast and ate a small piece.

"Well, it's really delicious! Much better than the chef at home!"

"You kid... you're really good at complimenting people." Marquis Treville couldn't help but laugh, then took a sip of red wine.

Hearing Charlotte's insincere compliments, Fran, who was disgusted, couldn't help but glance at her with contempt, but when she saw Charlotte, she was stunned for a moment.

Because Charlotte happened to glance at her.

With a malicious sneer on her face, Charlotte stabbed the silver knife into the lamb ribs on the plate, and then with a slow and delicate movement, she slowly cut the ribs and cut the cut part into small pieces, and then she slowly put a small piece of ribs into her mouth. The whole action was delicate and elegant, enough to be included in the table etiquette textbook.

However, what was important was not her eating action, but that she was staring at Fran. That vicious look, as if he mistook the lamb ribs on the plate for Fran, coupled with that warm smile, was enough to scare anyone.

At least Fran was terrified. In front of Charlotte, who was surrounded by black fog, she seemed to be stung by a wasp. She quickly withdrew her eyes, avoided the other person's sight, and lowered her head to drink the pea soup.

"snort."

Ruoyouruowu's humming sound echoed in her ears, making the anger and hatred in Fran's heart thicker, but the creepy feeling lingered for a long time.

Driven by this anger and fear, Fran lost her appetite and ate very quickly, so she ended her dinner early. In order not to make Charlotte too proud, she mustered up the courage to give Charlotte a challenging look that meant "I'm not afraid of you, just wait for me, I will come back!", and then He put the tableware back in place, stood up, and prepared to walk back to his room.

Charlotte, still smiling, watched Fran leave who was in a state of confusion.

"Good night~!" When Fran was about to leave, she shouted at Fran's back, seemingly polite but actually full of ridicule.

Fran's shoulders slumped, but she finally didn't look back. After a moment's pause, she started walking again.

"Good night." She said the same greeting without looking back. This greeting seemed to come from the Antarctic continent, without any friendly elements remaining at all.

………………

The joy of winning for a while did not remain in Charlotte's heart for long. After all, it was no fun to bully a child. She quickly returned her attention to dinner.

At this time, Charlotte had to secretly praise in her heart. Although the dishes were not as rich as those at Duke Treville's house, and the ingredients were not as expensive, the taste was really good. Maybe it would be good to stay here for two more days. thing?

"If you think it's delicious, then eat more. Don't be polite." Just when she was thinking about her thoughts, Marquis Treville suddenly spoke. He looked at Charlotte gently, just like every loving elder. "Think carefully, you haven't been here for a long time, right? I still remember you when you were a child, but I didn't expect that you would all grow up so big in the blink of an eye..." The old Marquis sighed leisurely. , "You have all grown up and we are all old."

Read the original text in Liu#9@书/吧!

In front of the somewhat sad old man, Charlotte quickly put down the tableware and comforted the old man with a smile.

"Is this a good thing? If we don't grow up sooner, how can we help you and grandpa?"

"I would rather you help me less." Marquis Treville smiled bitterly without meaning, "You are really doing something extraordinary now..."

Under the half-bright sarcasm of her elders, Charlotte smiled in embarrassment and just blinked without answering.

"Charlotte, I won't beat around the bush." ​​After a moment of silence, the old Marquis spoke again, "I want to ask you a question, is that okay?"

"As long as I know, I will try my best to answer you." Charlotte nodded solemnly.

"Do you still love Charles?" Marquis Treville looked at Charlotte, and then nodded gently, "Don't rush to answer, think about it carefully, and answer according to your heart. And, I can see it. , Charles still likes you, at least as much as he did then. Although this bastard talks tough, but I am his grandfather, why can't I see it? So, I want to ask you, are you now? What do you think?"

What a straightforward cavalry officer style... Charlotte smiled bitterly in her heart, and then fell into silence.

The old Marquis did not press her, but continued to drink his red wine leisurely.

"Yes, I still like him." Charlotte didn't spend much time thinking. Finally, she answered firmly, "I can't imagine anyone else in the world being with him."

"Very good," the Marquis nodded, seeming to feel happy because he got the answer he wanted, "Then you can get married."

"Huh?" Charlotte was very surprised.

This topic is also moving too fast.

"Is it strange?" The Marquis smiled again, "I am an old man, so like every old man, I want to hold my grandson and play with him every day. Isn't this strange? Since you two still have feelings for each other, why? Still wasting time? Let’s get married now…”

Get married now... These words echoed in Charlotte's mind like a mantra.

At this moment, she finally understood what her grandfather meant. Why was he still indifferent to her return? I see.

Get married now, and then just stay at home and worry about which wife’s children are good-looking and which girl’s embroidery is good-looking all day long? Then you can either watch a show or read a book to pass the time all day long?

"No, I refuse," Charlotte replied in a low voice.

"Why?" The Marquis seemed a little surprised at her answer.

"Although Ciel must be mine, it's not yet. We haven't decided the winner yet, so I can't stop, I'm sorry." Charlotte had a smile on her face, but also an unwavering belief, " But don’t worry, I feel like the winner will be determined soon..."

"You kids..." After hearing her answer, the old Marquis couldn't help but smile bitterly, "Why are you all the same..." (To be continued.)